Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-04-02
County Taxation.
To the Chronicle.


To the Chronicle.
Isee from the papers that the Legis-
ture has increased the rate OF taxation
from 30 cents on the 500 to 45 cents,
an increase Of so per cent. do not
desire 10 criticise the wisdom Of the in
crease, for do not know the necessi-
ties that demanded it. II ii requires
45 cents tax TO meet the interest Oh our
bonds and keep the machinery OF our
government running, why l for one
am willing to pay it, and pay it most
cheerfully. But desire TO offer a few
facts for the consideration OF our Coun-
ty Court when it meets Monday &c fix
the rate OF taxation for county purposes
for the year OF 1887.
Money Is, perhaps, scarcer amongst
the people OF this county. than at any
period since the year 1857, at least am
SO informed by the older citizens. The
staple crop (tobacco) is bringing prices
that lam told does not justify the
farmers in raising it. The crop to be
raised this year will not be on the mar
ket in time for the farmer to get his
money TO pay his taxes for 1887; conse-
quently see but little prospect for
better times this year, even if the crops
OF 'SS should bring better prices.
Those being facts, can we not get
some relief from county taxation to
Offset the increase in the State levy
Ipresent the following facts and fig
ures. The bonded Indebtedness has,
under the skilful management of our
most efficient and worthy County Judge,
been reduced in the past thirteen years
from about $500, 900 to $4,000, which
result would be credit to the ables,
tinancier on Wall street, and more il
the credit to him. Now on that sum
we required 81 800 to pay the interest
Let's see how we get it.
take the following figures from the
Trustees book for 'S6: The tota
amount OF real and personal propert,
in this county shown from the tax book
(Which Includes the supplements) wal
$4,971 ,730, upon which the county lev
led a railroad tax OF 35 cents on the 800
which yields a revenue OF $l7, 401. 05
Take off 10 per cent for releases ant
failure to collect and you have $l5,661.
rs.
Besides that we collected as show
by the books OF the County Court Clerk
the sum of $6476.80 from merchant
and parties exercising privileges, 70
railroad purposes, which added to tn
: Sl5,661.95 makes a total of 500, 137, s
e received, or will be received, to NEE
the 81 800 interest on our bonds, whic
would leave balance in the sinkin
Il fund of $14, 1897 .85.
Y For the year 1887 assume the taxabl
e valuation will not fall short OF 'S6 whic
d would make the aggregate railroad ia
J., SIS gel. 05 But the legislature has Ell
acted that mo county shall levy but on
privilege tax, and that not to be create
than that levied by the State" whic
will, in all PROBABILITY, cut the revenr
collected by the County Court Cler
rs for railroad purposes to, say $500
y and am sare it will not be less tha
. that, which would give us $l7, 66l.t
h to meet the 81 800 interest, and the
n leave $4,000 in the sinking fund. No
y considering the stringency OF Il
% times, can't we do on less? Say II
,e total valuation OF property is $4,&l ,7S
TO Levy tax OF twenty cents on the ST.
y and we have $9,94346. Take off Il
rel per cent for releases ETC., $99434. AID
he amount collected from merchants alor
err $4,000, which leave $l0,949.12. Your il
le crest is 81 800 and you still have s
Of 1912, for the sinking fund, which Il
rt this year, will be plenty to take fro
the tax payers, above what is absolute
needed. and would Offset the increa
10 levied by the State, and make our tax
es just what they were for 1885.
he HAROLD.
ne P.S. did not include in the tot
~ valuation of property. The value
~ railroad and telegraph property in II
ne county which is 467 ,799:which added
nc 4,97l ,730 makes total valuation 5.44
IS 446,which makes the railroad too excl
u sive OF the amount received from me
u chants $1089S.93.
re To My Friends and Public Generally.